Rockhurst University | Learning, Leadership and Service in the Jesuit Tradition

Capstone Research
The Rockhurst CSD graduate program culminates with a Capstone project. This project gives students the opportunity to choose their own topic of interest and is planned during the Research Methods course. Students discover that their work has real world applications and impact. Faculty members, as well as members of the community, may suggest topics for students to consider based on needed research.

Family Perspectives of Early Intervention and CAS: A Preliminary Review
By: Elizabeth Crowley, Christine Gerk, Shannon McDaniel, and Mary Santucci
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Carol Koch

Assessment and Treatment Considerations for Children with Feeding issues Who Have Been Diagnosed with Failure to Thrive
By: Elizabeth Porth
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Carol Koch

Diagnostic Criteria for Childhood Apraxia of Speech
By: Lisa Shafar and Carissa Nohr
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Carol Koch

Perspectives of College Athletes, Coaches and Athletic Trainers on Sports Related Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries
By: Kathryn Gard and Stephanie Hessel
Faculty Mentor: Ms. Lynn Drazinski

The Effect of Voicing on Standing Balance and Limits of Stability
By: Taryn Williams
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Carol Koch and Dr. Jean Hiebert

Examination of Discourse Elicitation Techniques in an Adolescent with Acquired Brain Injury
By: Alyson Barrick
Faculty Mentor: Ms. Lynn Drazinski

Fluency Interventions for the Preschool-Age Population
By: Katie Malle and Stephanie Hinds
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Ballou

Perceptions of Traumatic Brain Injury in the Military
By: Barbara Bennion and Emily Jacobs
Faculty Mentor: Ms. Lynn Drazinski

Identification of One-Liner Jokes by Stroke Survivors
By: Margaret Wable
Faculty Mentors:  Dr. Bill Sturgill and Ms. Lynn Drazinski

Social Skills Group Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
By: Kelly Behlmann

School Aged Children with Fluency Disorders
By: Stefani Faulkner

Cochlear Implants and Age of Implantation
By: Jami Kroll

Impact of Symbolic Play on Language Development
By: Erin Lang

Total and Oral Communication Strategies for Children with Cochlear Implants
By: Kathryn Lavelle

The Use of Drama and Music Therapy in Speech Therapy
By: Carma Richey

Articulation Intervention for Children with Down Syndrome: A Review of Electropalatography Therapy
By: Meghan Sauer

Literacy Intervention and Enhancing Vocabulary Skills in Children
By: Regina Sikorski

How do Fathers Influence Their Children’s Literacy Development Through Reading and Writing Activities?
By: Alexandria Smith

Bilingual-Bicultural Intervention for Deaf Children on English Language Learning
By: Coriann Sperling

What are the Effects of TBI on Prelinguistic Speech Development for Children Birth to Three?
By: Anna Sullivan

Sign Language and Language Development in Children with Cochlear Implants
By: Jennifer Weil

Speech Reading for Development and Growth in the Hearing Impaired
By: Kristin McErlean 
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Ballou

Childhood Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD): Current Interventions, Treatment and Management
By: Elise Antiste
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Ballou

Eliciting Phonological Awareness Skills  in Second Grade Students with Reading Disability Through Two Different Service Delivery Models
By: Carissa Nohr
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Ballou

Aphasia’s Barriers to Social Reintegration and Strategies to Eliminate Them
By: Courtney Alexander
Faculty Mentor: Ms. Lynn Drazinski

Facial Signs of Mirth in Stroke Survivors
By: Megan Wuebbels
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Bill Sturgill and Ms. Lynn Drazinski

Perceptions of Augmentative and Alternative Communication by Adults with Communication Disorders and Their Communication Partners
By: Krystal Delestre
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Pam Hart

Impact of Intensity of Treatment and Constraint-Induced Therapy on            Individuals with Stroke Induced Aphasia
By: Maureen O’Sullivan
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Pam Hart

Literacy Acquisition and Phonological Awareness Skills in Individuals with Down Syndrome
By: Heather Regan
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Pam Hart

Assessment Tools Used in the Area of Infant Feeding and Swallowing Disorders
By: Courtney Pearson
Faculty Mentors: Ms. Kris Doohan and Dr. Carol Koch

Approaches to Assessing Bilingual Students in the School Setting
By: Rebecca Szczesny
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Ballou

What are the Underlying Causes of Pediatric Stroke?
By: Amanda Wood
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Ballou

Cognitive Symptom Overlap in Traumatic Brain Injury and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Soldiers
By: Kathryn Blaney
Faculty Mentor: Ms. Lynn Drazinski

Use of Peer Models in Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
By: Kaitlin Bowen
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Carol Koch

Augmentative and Alternative Devices Serving as Practical Intervention to   Enhance the Communication Abilities of Individuals with Autism
By: Jordyn Knipp
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Pam Hart

A Systematic Review of Applications of Brain Computer Interfacing to Individuals with Communication Impairments
By: Elizabeth Ledford
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Pam Hart

The Effects of Maltreatment on Child Development
By: Kelly Patton
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Pam Hart

Language Assessment and Intervention in Bilinguals with Aphasia
By: Jame Murphy
Faculty Mentor: Ms. Lynn Drazinski

Faculty
Dr. Pam Hart is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Rockhurst University. Dr.  Hart’s primary research interests focus on the language and literacy needs of children and adults with severe impairments who require augmentative and alternative communication strategies. She is also interested in the impact of technology on play behaviors of children. Other research interests include teaching, learning, and components of effective clinical supervision in communication sciences and disorders.

Selected Publications

Hart, P. & Wiley, S. (2011). Assessment and intervention for a school age child with complex communication needs and physical impairments. In S. Chabon & E. Kohn (Eds.), Communication Disorders: A Case-Based Approach: Stories from the Front Line. New Jersey: Allyn & Bacon.

Hart, P., Ballou, R., Drazinski, L, Koch, C., Leachman, B., and Solomon, L. (2009). The value of qualitative research in graduate education. MSHA News, Spring 2009.

Hart, P., Turner, G., & Duesing, B. (2008). Relationships between students’ self perceived supervisory needs and end of semester outcomes. Perspectives on Supervision and Administration, 18, 50 – 57.

Wood, L., & Hart, P. (2007). Language facilitation in augmentative and alternative communication. In A. Kamhi, J. Masterson, & K. Apel (Eds.), Clinical Decision Making in Developmental Language Disorders. Baltimore: Brookes Publishing.

Hart, P., Scherz, J., Apel, K., & Hodson, B. (2007). Analysis of spelling error patterns of individuals with complex communication needs and physical impairments. Augmentative and Alternative Communication.

Hart, P. (2006). Spelling considerations for AAC intervention. Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 15, 12-14.

Apel, K., Masterson, J., & Hart, P. (2004). Integration of language components in spelling: Instruction that maximizes students’ learning. In L.C. Wilkinson & E.R. Silliman (Eds.), Language-literacy learning: Collaboration between speech-language pathologists and classroom teachers. New York: Guilford
Press.

Scherz, J., & Hart, P. (2002). AAC in inclusive classrooms. Word of Mouth, 14, 4-7.

Scherz, J., & Hart, P. (2002). Language, literacy, and AAC: Time to move forward. ASHA Leader, 7, 17.

Selected Presentations

Ballou, R., & Hart, P. (2012). Effective literacy interventions in AAC. A seminar presented at the annual Missouri Speech Language Hearing Convention, Lake Ozark, MO.

Hart, P. (2011). Single subject design literacy interventions for AAC. A poster session presented at the annual American Speech Language Hearing Convention, SanDiego, CA.

Hart, P., & Wiley, S. (2011). Successful implementation of AAC and other assistive technologies: A hands on learning lab. An invited Day Institute presented at the annual Missouri Speech-Language
Hearing Association state convention. Lake Ozark, MO.

Hart, P. (2010). Evidence-based literacy interventions for individuals who use AAC. A poster session presented at the annual American Speech Language Hearing Convention, Philadelphia, PA.

Hart, P., & Koch, C. (2010). Program assessment in communication sciences and disorders. A poster session presented at the annual American Speech Language Hearing Convention, Philadelphia, PA.

Hart, P., Koch, C., Race, S., & Rittel, L. (2009). Early intervention experiences of families with young children who have autism. A poster session presented at the annual American Speech Language and Hearing Convention, New Orleans, LA.

Hart, P. & Stoll, A. (2008). Educational placement decisions for children with complex communication needs. A poster session presented at the annual American Speech Language and Hearing Convention, Chicago, IL.

Koch, C., Hart, P., & Drazinski, L. (2008). Content analysis of students’ written observation reflections. A poster session presented at the annual American Speech Language and Hearing Convention, Chicago, IL.

Wiley, S. & Hart, P. (2008). Assistive technology: What’s new and what still works. A seminar presented at the annual Caregiver Conference, Menorah Medical Center, Overland Park, KS.

Hart, P. & White, H.(2008). AAC and Visual Structure: Make and Take. A mini-seminar presented at the annual Missouri Speech Language Hearing Convention, Lake Ozark, Missouri.